Ned O'Keeffe
Question:324 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance the grant aid available for the development of a nursing home facility by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [26612/01]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
My Department does not operate any direct grant support schemes for health service providers. Where such schemes exist they would be implemented via the Department of Health and Children. However, I understand that, while that Department does not provide for grants to construct or maintain nursing homes, it indirectly supports the sector through the means-tested nursing home subvention scheme which subsidises residents of nursing homes.
However, in the Finance Act, 1998, I provided for capital allowances in relation to nursing homes. These allowances apply in respect of capital expenditure incurred from 3 December 1997 on building new nursing homes, upgrading or extending existing homes or converting existing buildings into nursing homes. The allowance is 15% of the qualifying capital expenditure in years one to six, with 10% in year seven, subject to certain conditions.